Niose: Learning from Holliston's cross dispute

If area residents are disappointed about being told that a large, lighted Christian cross cannot adorn the Holliston fire station this holiday season, perhaps the best advice can be found in a famous Christmas carol: You better not pout.

By David A. Niose/Guest columnist

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By David A. Niose/Guest columnist

Posted Dec. 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 18, 2009 at 6:16 PM

By David A. Niose/Guest columnist

Posted Dec. 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 18, 2009 at 6:16 PM

» Social News

If area residents are disappointed about being told that a large, lighted Christian cross cannot adorn the Holliston fire station this holiday season, perhaps the best advice can be found in a famous Christmas carol: You better not pout.

And I'll tell you why: Because this is a teachable moment, a chance for people of all religious views to recognize and celebrate the freedoms that we enjoy as American citizens.

Since the majority of residents of Holliston, like most communities in Massachusetts, probably identify as some type of Christian (whether Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox), it is understandable that there might be some frustration that selectmen have refused to allow the cross this year, breaking a tradition that has been ongoing during the holiday season for 70 years. Citing legal concerns, the board offered instead to allow the cross at an area on the town green where displays from all religions are welcome.

There is nothing anti-Christian about disallowing the cross, as the selectmen no doubt would have reached the same conclusion had the symbol in question been one of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, or any other religion. The Bill of Rights requires that the government be neutral as to matters of religion, meaning the government cannot endorse one religious view over another. Obviously, erection of a large Christian cross on the top of the fire station would give the appearance that the government is endorsing Christianity over other religions.

To get around this conundrum, proponents of the cross are willing to attempt some interesting rhetorical gymnastics. Some, for example, now claim that the Christian cross is not really a religious symbol at all, that the cross somehow symbolizes some other, secular purpose. This argument, which is no doubt made by people who identify as Christians, ironically seems to demean the significance of the cross itself.

When a majority feels strongly about an issue, it can be instructive to consider how the situation appears from the standpoint of the minority. Thus, if "everyone" in a town seems to be Christian, imagine how the relatively few Hindus, Jews, Muslims, or secular humanists in town might feel about a government building, maintained by their tax dollars, being used to promote Christianity. Consider how much courage would be needed for a non-Christian resident to voice an objection publicly, thereby incurring the wrath of the majority.

For this reason, the true spirit of the holiday necessitates that our government be sensitive to the religious views of all citizens. Such sensitivity should not be seen as "politically correct" or "anti-Christian," for it is much better described as "common decency" and "Constitutional." The vast majority of citizens may indeed identify as Christians, but that does not mean that the government is Christian or should endorse Christianity. This is why the Constitution separates church and state.

Page 2 of 2 - Clearly, the idea of separating religion from government is grounded in the sensible notion that matters of faith are primarily personal, not an appropriate area for government endorsement. Those who like to see crosses and other religious symbols should realize that there are plenty of opportunities to do so - on private property, and even sometimes on public property when accompanied by symbols of other religious views.

And if the majority still feels that the symbol of their faith should be allowed to sit atop the fire station, they should consider how they would feel if the situation changed. How would they like it if Holliston suddenly had a Muslim majority, for example, that voted to have a symbol of Islam atop the fire station?

From this perspective, the people of Holliston can have much to celebrate this holiday season. Their religious holidays are not under assault, and in fact are very much a defining aspect of the season. But beyond that, as people of different traditions come together to celebrate the holiday season, they can all have one more thing to celebrate - America's diverse, pluralistic, tolerant, and inclusive character.

David A. Niose, a Massachusetts attorney, is president of the American Humanist Association, a Washington-based nonprofit.